Owner of The Central App Vicki McLean is wishing Central Otago readers a Merry Christmas, with a simple message about kindness and making space for others at the table. 

“Know that everybody’s in a different part of their journey who’s gathering with you today,” Vicki said. 

She said Christmas can be difficult for some people, particularly after a tough year or for those with mixed feelings about the season, and she encouraged people to be mindful of that when spending

time with family, friends or wider community groups. 

“Whether you’re with friends, family, people you don’t know, people you’re getting to know, the church, lunch, wherever you are, just be kind to the person sitting next to you,” she said. 

Vicki will spend Christmas Day this year in a rented holiday house in Kakanui, continuing a long-running family tradition. 

The group, made up of 10 adults and eight dogs, includes parents, siblings, an aunty visiting from Australia and partners, gathering together for four days by the coast. 

“We have a very casual, informal Christmas,” she said. 

Renting a house allows the family to bring their dogs, who Vicki describes as “our babies”, and avoids placing the burden of hosting on any one household. 

Christmas day food responsibilities are divided up across the group. 

The Central App owner Vicki McLean and her ‘babies’ ready for festivities. Image: Supplied 

Vicki and her partner Fraser are in charge of Christmas morning brunch, and on the menu are a large serve of sausages, new potatoes, bacon and egg bake, and an avocado and salmon platter. 

“There’s a selection for everyone, you know, depending on if you’re really hungry or just needing a nibble,” she said. 

The main Christmas meal generally sees a feast including lamb, ham, salmon and chicken contributed by different family members, followed by a Secret Santa exchange planned weeks in advance. 

Extended family gatherings have featured in Vicki’s Christmas since childhood, when the day centred around her grandmother. 

“Nana would always put on the big Christmas lunch for everybody – so all the family, the cousins, would all get together,” she said. 

This year’s Christmas wish? While the world outside remains uncertain, Vicki’s focus is on the people within reach. "There’s a lot of challenges going on in the world right now, and I feel very blessed and fortunate to have the people I love around me this Christmas,

“A simple reminder that in a world of challenges, being together is the greatest gift of all,” she said.